October in Review

We woke up the beginning of October to find some deer sparring in our backyard!  The boys love the wildlife around here.  Rabbits are abundant, but their favorite are the deer.  One morning Lincoln discovered deer droppings on our lawn and thought that was cool. 

Every year Parachute puts on an Octoberfest.  Now, coming from Germany, it wasn't anything spectacular.  But it was fun!  The boys and I dressed up in our German Trachten and enjoyed the music and the fireworks down at Cottonwood Park.  I may just have to volunteer next year to help add a little Bavarian flavor to the celebration!

Bruce's parents came out to visit us during the time of the open house for H-Dentistry.  After all the planning, you never know how the weather will fare.  We were fortunate to have the rain come in the wee hours of the morning, only to clear up and smile on us! 

Bruce served hot dogs and donuts.  The donuts were especially made by Daylight Donuts here in town.  Yummy! 

The Moos Radio station came to promote the new dental office and brought along their mascot.

The Chamber of Commerce came to have our ribbon cutting ceremony.  Actually, it was really a floss cutting ceremony, but who's keeping track?

View of the dental clinic and sign out front

The kids had all sorts of games to play.  Here, they learn where cavities usually form.  There was also a work hunt throughout the clinic and a coloring contest.  The adults got to put names in for a drawing of great prizes and learn all about the staff as well as the neat stories behind the building of the clinic.   All in all it was a successful day for us!  I took a huge sigh of relief after it was all over....it was a lot of work!

I had to get a picture of Bruce mowing the lawn.  You can tell when things have slowed down here at the Hoggan house when Bruce is able to help out.  This is the first time he has mowed the lawn since we have lived in this house.  Way to go Bruce!

This is our rental car for our trip down to San Diego.  Unfortunately, our camera's batteries were both dead, so this it the only thing we have.  Bruce's Grandmother, Cleo Matthews Hoggan passed away, so we drove to Escondido to be at here funeral.  Eight of Bruce's siblings made it down to the funeral.  The night before, we met at Grandma's favorite Mexican restaurant to eat as a family.  It was a great way to remember Grandma.  The day of the funeral was great too.  All of Grandma Hoggan's Children did a great job in honoring and remembering her.  The best part was the Pepsi toast after the family prayer.  The story goes that Aunt Paula and Aunt Janeen went to go visit Grandma and brought her some Pepsi.  They put the straw up to her mouth so she could sip, and once she tasted the Pepsi, her eyes lit up, and she lived for 9 more months!  I love the Hoggan family!  Great laughs. 

We had wanted to go to the beach that afternoon, but the weather wouldn't cooperate.  So, instead we drove out of Escondido and headed to St. George for the night.  We found a hotel when we drove in at midnight.  Long night!  The next morning we were so excited to connect with the Toolsons!  We love and miss them.  Elder and Sister Toolson served in the Military Relations mission, but had to go home early due to Sister Toolson's illness.  We got caught up and talked a lot about the happenings in the Grafenwhor ward.  We enjoyed lunch with them as well as part of the BYU game that afternoon. 

WE also met up with John and Tricia.  Their family was staying in St. George for UEA week.  Tricia's parents have a second home down there.  Our boys loved playing with Damia and Michayla.  WE enjoyed the rest of the BYU game, then a great dinner.  WE spent the night there, then went to sacrament meeting before we headed for the long drive home.  We stopped at the Huffakers in Grand Junction.  They are longtime family friends.  Then we turned in our rental car, drove home and put our kids into bed so we could wake up on Monday and begin a new week.  Crazy trip, but we are glad that we made it.  We are so thankful for family and friends. 

Where did the mountain go?  Low clouds came, and once they left, they revealed snow in the high country.

This year, we enjoyed getting our pumpkins at a pumpkin patch.  It is a lot more fun than buying them in a store.  In the spirit of Halloween, Bruce decided to have a little fun.  And you know what?  It really worked!  It went so much faster!

Bruce and Lincoln's pumpkin

The final products really show glowing talent!  I am most proud of Gideon's pumpkin.  He first drew a small little mouth, but then after explaining that he has the biggest pumpkin, he might want to make the mouth larger, it became a gaping hole!  WE had a lot of fun. 

It was fun to see the kids choose their costumes.  Gideon was originally going to be a gorilla, but changed his mind last minute.  Allen settled on a vampire again and Lincoln fluctuated between the bumble bee and the cowboy.  Bruce and I are swing kids, if you can't tell.  It was great to cut a rug with him.  It has been awhile.  We enjoyed a fun Halloween party put on by our neighbors, then a fun trunk or treat at the ward.  I love the Autumn season with all its festivities and holidays seeped in tradition.   Now that Halloween is over, we look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Happy October everybody!